25 February 2012

"Writing encourages forgetfulness"

That's the clear implication of this passage about ancient Egypt, attributed to Socrates:

[Writing] will introduce forgetfulness into the
soul of those who learn it: they will not practice using their memory
because they will put their trust in writing, which is external and
depends on signs that belong to others, instead of trying to remember
from the inside, completely on their own. You have not discovered a
potion for remembering, but for reminding; you provide your students
with the appearance of wisdom, not with its reality. Your invention will
enable them to hear many things without being properly taught, and they
will imagine that they have come to know much while for the most part
they will know nothing. And they will be difficult to get along with,
since they will merely appear to be wise instead of really being so.”

While I agree as well, it should be pointed out that forgetting lower-level tasks often opens one up for higher-level abstract thinking. Consider how many mathematicians have more difficulty with arithmetic than with higher level proofs or other more sophisticated derivations. In life, every disadvantage usually comes with an equal and opposite advantage of some kind. You just need to look for it.

"Tai-wiki-widbee" is an eclectic mix of trivialities, ephemera, curiosities, and exotica with a smattering of current events, social commentary, science, history, English language and literature, videos, and humor. We try to be the cyberequivalent of a Victorian cabinet of curiosities.

The 2008 Weblog Awards

Category: Best New Blog

Translate

Search TYWKIWDBI

About Me

I'm using an old photo of my grandfather as an avatar; he would have been amused.
Readers - especially old friends, classmates, students, former colleagues, and long-lost relatives - are welcome to email me via retag4726 (at) mypacks.net